Biting at random

[Puki]

Recently my conure has started biting more often. I believe its because he gets scared. But its stuff like scars and my lips and im not quite sure how to go about getting him to calm down.

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Shredding toys, target training, more to do. Keep him busy and distracted from biting and never punish him. But don't react either. So when he bites, you shouldn't yell, pull away, hit him, or throw him.

 

[chris-md]

How old is your conure?

 

[Puki]

How old is your conure?

He is nearing a year old

 

[foxgloveparrot]

He is nearing a year old

Then it could be puberty. I think. I haven’t owned conures before.

 

[Laurasea]

Baby conures and really all babies are very forgiving.

Once they reach adulthood and or puberty, they expect us to read their cues . If missed they correct us with beak.

I've ridden the learning curve with my GCC. I can now read her, and give her the few seconds or time needed to calm down. Bites avoided. Often an upset conure will crouch, raise nape feathers, weave, snake neck, stylized stomping march, narrow eyes, partially open beak, displsce bite ground random in reach objects any, any , all or combination then back off give them some space, calmly talk to them.

My GCC doesn't like hands coming above her head. And yes I think can get spooked, or think we are disrespectful, get over excited, try to save us from a perceived threat( person or animal walked in the room) bite to make us fly away,I've even seen it as sugar rush from to much fruit,whatever they have a reason its not random.

Try and think about the situation from tge perspective you've done something wrong.

Also hand feed treats often. Randomly walk over say hi give treat. Find things to reward. A behavior expert Pamela Clark also recommends this.

Sometimes something has happened to cause fear if hands and break trust. This has happened to me and mine. Rebuild trust bank, lots of treats by hand get us back to good standing

 

[Puki]

Baby conures and really all babies are very forgiving.

Once they reach adulthood and or puberty, they expect us to read their cues . If missed they correct us with beak.

I've ridden the learning curve with my GCC. I can now read her, and give her the few seconds or time needed to calm down. Bites avoided. Often an upset conure will crouch, raise nape feathers, weave, snake neck, stylized stomping march, narrow eyes, partially open beak, displsce bite ground random in reach objects any, any , all or combination then back off give them some space, calmly talk to them.

My GCC doesn't like hands coming above her head. And yes I think can get spooked, or think we are disrespectful, get over excited, try to save us from a perceived threat( person or animal walked in the room) bite to make us fly away,I've even seen it as sugar rush from to much fruit,whatever they have a reason its not random.

Try and think about the situation from tge perspective you've done something wrong.

Also hand feed treats often. Randomly walk over say hi give treat. Find things to reward. A behavior expert Pamela Clark also recommends this.

Sometimes something has happened to cause fear if hands and break trust. This has happened to me and mine. Rebuild trust bank, lots of treats by hand get us back to good standing

the thing is he will bite when my hands are nowhere near him, he will be on my shoulder and suddenly bite my lips and i wouldn't have been moving at all. I dont know why he gets upset. He is perfectly fine with my hands and i know when he doesnt want to be pet, it just seems so random

 

[Laurasea]

well thats not fun !
Have you had him out to long with out food and water breaks?
Have people or pets come near you or into room?

Has he decided to do this to get your attention or turned into a game? Are you ignoring him and focused on your phone? They get jealous! I had to do postive reinforcement with phone as mine hated all the attention paid to phone abd nit her

 

[Puki]

well thats not fun !
Have you had him out to long with out food and water breaks?
Have people or pets come near you or into room?

Has he decided to do this to get your attention or turned into a game? Are you ignoring him and focused on your phone? They get jealous! I had to do postive reinforcement with phone as mine hated all the attention paid to phone abd nit her

when it happens it looks like he just wants to cuddle, but i'll give him some pets more often and see if the biting stops, thanks for the advice

 

[𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖞𝕻𝖎𝖈𝖆]

Just make sure not to cuddle him too often, and DO NOT cuddle him if he bites you, that is just rewarding him for biting you.

Redirect with a toy or a training session and then you can give cuddles. In time he will understand that biting = no attention and will stop.

 

[Laurasea]

wise words Stormy.
Definitely don't want to reward bites.
Try and pet and shift, chat with him before you think bite will be coming. Try and give a break every half hour or hour for snack and water if on your shoulder longer than that.

 

[Emeral]

Recently my conure has started biting more often. I believe its because he gets scared. But its stuff like scars and my lips and im not quite sure how to go about getting him to calm down.

This mention of scars and lips bites warrant no more shoulder privileges.

I recommend that you start fresh with him as follows....

1) do not let him perch on your shoulder
( until he learns good behavior)

2) do not let him stay higher than your eye level, to avoid dominance issue

3) read this thread asap

Post in thread 'Bite pressure training?' https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/bite-pressure-training.63988/post-598712

 

[BirdyBee]

This mention of scars and lips bites warrant no more shoulder privileges.

I recommend that you start fresh with him as follows....

1) do not let him perch on your shoulder
( until he learns good behavior)

2) do not let him stay higher than your eye level, to avoid dominance issue

3) read this thread asap

Post in thread 'Bite pressure training?' https://www.parrotforums.com/threads/bite-pressure-training.63988/post-598712

Why stay below eye level? To avoid "height dominance"?

"Height dominance" doesn't exist and it's a myth. The reason birds like being high is because they enjoy it and feel safer.

In the wild, dominance doesn't really exist in parrots. They don't have a reason to be dominant. Yes, they bicker and have arguments. Yes, they might dislike each other. But in order to live, they need to work together. This is especially true in flock species like budgies, cockatiels, cockatoos, conures, etc.

Height dominance has been debunked and proved wrong multiple times. Just go look up HOW MANY articles and studies have been made by specialists in avian behaviour/training.

I really felt the need to write this since the "height dominance" myth is so old. It was developed in the same time people thought that you need to be dominant over your dog to get them to do what you want, so similar things were applied to birds

I hope you understand what I meant.

 

[𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖞𝕻𝖎𝖈𝖆]

Why stay below eye level? To avoid "height dominance"?

"Height dominance" doesn't exist and it's a myth. The reason birds like being high is because they enjoy it and feel safer.

In the wild, dominance doesn't really exist in parrots. They don't have a reason to be dominant. Yes, they bicker and have arguments. Yes, they might dislike each other. But in order to live, they need to work together. This is especially true in flock species like budgies, cockatiels, cockatoos, conures, etc.

Height dominance has been debunked and proved wrong multiple times. Just go look up HOW MANY articles and studies have been made by specialists in avian behaviour/training.

I really felt the need to write this since the "height dominance" myth is so old. It was developed in the same time people thought that you need to be dominant over your dog to get them to do what you want, so similar things were applied to birds

I hope you understand what I meant.

Yes, I see Emral post this a lot, and I totally agree. Height dominance it a TOTAL MYTH!!! Birds just like to be higher than you because in the wild, being up high protects them from predators on the ground.

 

[foxgloveparrot]

Yes, I see Emral post this a lot, and I totally agree. Height dominance it a TOTAL MYTH!!! Birds just like to be higher than you because in the wild, being up high protects them from predators on the ground.

Yeah, there is no "leader" of the flock. If anything being up high gives them a feeling of security (and you still shouldn't put a tabletop cage on the floor or anything).

 

[Emeral]

Why stay below eye level? To avoid "height dominance"?

"Height dominance" doesn't exist and it's a myth. The reason birds like being high is because they enjoy it and feel safer.

In the wild, dominance doesn't really exist in parrots. They don't have a reason to be dominant. Yes, they bicker and have arguments. Yes, they might dislike each other. But in order to live, they need to work together. This is especially true in flock species like budgies, cockatiels, cockatoos, conures, etc.

Height dominance has been debunked and proved wrong multiple times. Just go look up HOW MANY articles and studies have been made by specialists in avian behaviour/training.

I really felt the need to write this since the "height dominance" myth is so old. It was developed in the same time people thought that you need to be dominant over your dog to get them to do what you want, so similar things were applied to birds

I hope you understand what I meant.

I am sure you mean to help. I am also sure that there are many solutions to one problem. But I mean to help too. So if we think differently, I would appreciate a link to studies or articles that proof your point. Instead of simply saying it exists. Help me get more clever, won't you?

My experience......
My Emerald stop responding to commands when perched higher than my eye level. (Perhaps she read these myth on the internet 😳) Height dominance is recognized by many reputable sources too. And in the end it is just another way that might help. What is there to loose to try out this method? This theory only requires a move of perches to below eye level. If it works, problem solved....have a happy day....

Height Dominance Issues in Birds | VCA Animal Hospitals

It is common for owners to have their birds on their shoulders as they go about their day. We are left with our hands free and our little buddies get to spend part of the day with us. Although this seems like a wonderful idea, it is not appropriate in all situations or for all birds.

vcahospitals.com

I read about height dominace in birds.....a lot....I tried it on my sweet baby birds...and it worked for me. So I just share what works for me.

I am sure there is no right or wrong options (at least until you try it under your own circumstances.) What did not work for you, might work for me.....can we agree to disagree?

 

[𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖞𝕻𝖎𝖈𝖆]

I am sure you mean to help. I am also sure that there are many solutions to one problem. But I mean to help too. So if we think differently, I would appreciate a link to studies or articles that proof your point. Instead of simply saying it exists. Help me get more clever, won't you?

My experience......
My Emerald stop responding to commands when perched higher than my eye level. (Perhaps she read these myth on the internet 😳) Height dominance is recognized by many reputable sources too. And in the end it is just another way that might help. What is there to loose to try out this method? This theory only requires a move of perches to below eye level. If it works, problem solved....have a happy day....

Height Dominance Issues in Birds | VCA Animal Hospitals

It is common for owners to have their birds on their shoulders as they go about their day. We are left with our hands free and our little buddies get to spend part of the day with us. Although this seems like a wonderful idea, it is not appropriate in all situations or for all birds.

vcahospitals.com

I read about height dominace in birds.....a lot....I tried it on my sweet baby birds...and it worked for me. So I just share what works for me.

I am sure there is no right or wrong options (at least until you try it under your own circumstances.) What did not work for you, might work for me.....can we agree to disagree?

I do agree that it may help, I just don't think it's 'dominance', as there is no such thing as a flock leader.

When birds are higher than you, they will see no need to step down, because they want to get higher to avoid predators. Here are some articles and videos explaining why height dominance is a myth.

Parrot Training Myth #3: Height Dominance | Karen Pryor Clicker Training

This is important - very important - if parrots are not trying to establish dominance, the trainer makes a big, harmful mistake if he tries to assert dominance over the parrot.

www.clickertraining.com

https://flock-talk.tumblr.com%2Fpost%2F108990830803

 

[Laurasea]

Pamela Clark is a behavior expert, you might enjoy her articles
Post in thread 'Experience with Grey biting the same spot on the same hand' https://www.parrotforums.com/thread...-same-spot-on-the-same-hand.92731/post-972742

 

[𝕾𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖒𝖞𝕻𝖎𝖈𝖆]

Great article!
@Puki let us know if you have any other questions!

 

[Skarila]

Could be start of puberty/hormones, as other mentioned.

Conures are nippy little bast-- err, I mean birds, they think nipping and biting is a solution for everything.

From what I understood, you can be just sitting, doing nothing and then just getting a bite on the lip? Possible it is a mean way of "Hey!! Pay attention TO ME!". My conure recently started doing something similar if I'm on the computer, he will start nipping hard on my fingers just because I am not paying attention to him. But in this case I ignore even more - or back to the cage he goes. Also I will let him know it hurt by "ouching". Everytime he bites nonintentionally, i always let him know. Very possible he isn't taught and aware how hard is he allowed to bite/nip. I let Pascal nip me from time to time, because well...it is a nip, and it is acceptable amount, not hurtful. Anything stronger than that should be discouraged.

Try not to let the bird be on your shoulders until you get it's trust. Try to see what might lead to the biting. Is it lack of attention? You got new clothes, jewelry, painted nails? Makeup? Birthmark that is unacceptable for the bird to be there? While trying to assess the "why", in meantime it is time to correct the bad behaviour. Tricks and training goes a long way!